In teacher education programs, we have a responsibility to prepare future teachers for the civic profession of education. For me, this means registering students to vote in my classes, advocating for political activism, and encouraging them to see themselves as agents of political change (and to act accordingly!). Teaching is political. I’m following the walk …
Scrolling through social media, as I often mindlessly do, I am repeatedly reminded of the powerful educators with whom I am in community. It is not my community. It is a community in which I am a learning, growing, contributing member. These educators inspire me, motivate me, encourage me, and remind me of the change …
I am finding myself rageful lately. The politics in this country no longer reflect dialogue I’m even remotely familiar with and each day we experience a new tragedy or outrage that we no longer even seem to notice. As we reel and stumble to make sense of our public health crisis of mass shootings by …
I’m a big believer that words matter. Words are powerful and, despite that “sticks and stones” rubbish, words can certainly hurt us. Therefore, when talking about “behavior management,” by the way, I continue to put quotes around it in an effort to communicate that, while those words sometimes provoke a common understanding for educational professionals …
Build relationships, you say. Teach the behavior I want to see, you say. Build community, you say. Haven’t I been doing that?? Often, the draw to visible behavior management systems for teachers is the act of doing something. Let’s take a common example in any classroom: A learner is talking while the teacher is talking. What …
Three Things You Can Do Tomorrow To Build Classroom Community Read More »
Ahh, “behavior management.” Research shows that “behavior management” is one of the top challenges for teachers, one of the factors attributed to teacher attrition, and a top priority for school administrators. But what does it mean, to manage behaviors? It is a teacher’s job to gain the cooperation of his/her learners. Think about those words …
From Punishing to Teaching The Behavior We Want To See Read More »
Educational contexts will not improve until we demand professionalism of the field. That begins in teacher education. Set a high bar for faculty. Teacher education is not a place for career teachers to transition. It’s a career in and of itself with specific knowledge and skills separate from those demanded in K12 environments.
Parenting is hard and no supports exist for doing it well. Everyone is not an expert on child development nor does everyone have access to an expert on child development. Unrealistic expectations abound and parents and kids struggle as a result.
Every. Single. Person. is doing the best they can with what they have. Behavior is communication and serves a purpose so seek to understand rather than punish. Address the cause of the behavior rather than the behavior itself.
Mistakes are unavoidable and necessary components of learning.
Typical grading systems do not reflect learning. They’re more reflective of compliance with teacher preferences. If you give/get attendance points, drop a letter grade for late submission, or in any other way use grades to compel behavior, you are abusing the system. Grades are communication of mastery. That’s it. Not behavior.
Meaningful inclusion means each and every learner is a valued member of the classroom and school community. Supports are in place in order to reach the high expectations set for each student. Fair is not always equal as we each need different supports for success.
Every. Single. Family. Loves their child and is doing the absolute best they can with their specific realities. Empathy is foundational to effective teaching.
What do you know? Tell me!!
Kids need to learn to share. They have to share precious resources with siblings. They have to share with others at school. Sharing is a mainstay topic on Sesame Street. Parents pull their hair out because their kids “can’t” share. Sharing is caring, a way of life. Or is it? Merriam-Webster says “sharing” is 1) a …
We will dismantle beliefs about children and families that do harm and put limits on growth. We will explore how we can grow toward strengths-based approaches that celebrate the first five years and open the doors for the potential within every child.
